*Montgomery - Military Competence?
Published by Campbell M Gold in Revisionist · Wednesday 29 May 2024
Tags: Bernard, Montgomery, Military, Competence, Field, Marshal, World, War, II, Leadership, Allied, Forces, British, Commander, Military, Failures
Tags: Bernard, Montgomery, Military, Competence, Field, Marshal, World, War, II, Leadership, Allied, Forces, British, Commander, Military, Failures
Bernard Montgomery - Military Failure Review
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Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery (17 Nov 1887 – 24 Mar 1976), 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein KG, GCB, DSO, PC, DL, was a prominent British commander during World War II. However, his leadership was marred by several notable military failures that resulted in an unnecessarily high loss of Allied life, leading some to question his military competence...
Montgomery was notorious for his lack of tact and diplomacy.
Even his "patron," the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir Alan Brooke, frequently mentions this in his war diaries: "He is liable to commit untold errors in lack of tact" and "I had to haul him over the coals for his usual lack of tact and egotistical outlook which prevented him from appreciating other people's feelings."
Churchill, Monty's friend, said of him, "In defeat, unbeatable; in victory, unbearable."
Montgomery suffered from "an overbearing conceit and an uncontrollable urge for self-promotion." General Hastings Ismay, who was at the time Winston Churchill's chief staff officer and military adviser, further said of Montgomery that he [Ismay] had concluded that his [Montgomery's] love of publicity was a disease, like alcoholism or taking drugs and that it sent him equally mad.
Additionally, Montgomery had several notable military failures resulting in an unnecessarily high loss of Allied life:
- North African campaign: During the North African campaign, particularly under Montgomery's command, the British Commonwealth forces suffered significant casualties. The British Commonwealth alone lost around 25,478 troops killed. This figure includes intense battles such as the Second Battle of El Alamein, a turning point in the campaign.
- Battle of Caen: Montgomery’s plan to capture Caen shortly after the D-Day landings in Jun 1944 faced significant delays and heavy casualties. The city was supposed to be taken within days, but it took over a month, resulting in substantial Allied losses. From Jun to Aug 1944, the Battle of Caen resulted in significant Allied casualties. The British, Canadian, and Polish forces suffered around 16,000 killed during the Normandy campaign, which included the Battle of Caen.
- Operation Market Garden: This ambitious operation in Sep 1944 aimed to secure critical bridges in the Netherlands to enable a rapid advance into Germany. However, it failed due to German solid resistance and logistical issues, leading to significant Allied casualties. Approximately 17,000 Allied troops were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner during the operation.
- Falaise Gap: During the Battle of Normandy, Montgomery’s decision-making contributed to the controversial “halt order” that allowed many German forces to escape through the Falaise Gap, prolonging the battle and resulting in missed opportunities. Allied forces, including American, British, Canadian, and Polish troops, suffered around 5,679 Canadian casualties and an estimated 5,150 Polish casualties. The exact number of Allied casualties, including those from the U.S. and the UK, is not precisely documented, but it was a costly (substantially >10,829) battle for the Allies.
- Battle of the Bulge: Montgomery was crucial in stabilising the Allied lines during this German counteroffensive in Dec 1944. However, his initial underestimation of the German threat and subsequent disagreements with American commanders strained Allied cooperation. The Battle of the Bulge, from 16 Dec 1944 to 25 Jan 1945, resulted in significant Allied casualties. Approximately 19,000 Allied soldiers were killed in action. Additionally, there were around 47,500 wounded and 23,000 missing.
That's a low-end guesstimate of 71,307 allied deaths; the total is much higher and surpasses the 100,000 mark.
Despite these setbacks, Montgomery’s leadership was also marked by success, such as his victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein, "a turning point in the North African campaign."
Arnhem
Montgomery’s failure at Arnhem was a significant part of Operation Market Garden, a plan to end WWII by Christmas 1944. The operation aimed to secure critical bridges in the Netherlands, including the bridge at Arnhem, to enable a rapid Allied advance into Germany.
However, several factors led to Market Garden's failure:
- Underestimation of German Forces: Montgomery and his planners underestimated the strength and presence of German armoured divisions in the Arnhem area.
- Poor Planning and Execution: The airborne troops were dropped too far from their objectives, which delayed their advance and allowed German forces to regroup. Additionally, the operation relied heavily on a single, narrow road for the ground forces, making them vulnerable to German counterattacks.
- Communication Failures: There were significant issues with communication between the airborne units and the ground forces, as well as hampered coordination and support.
- Logistical Challenges: The operation faced logistical difficulties, including inadequate supply drops and the inability to reinforce airborne troops quickly.
Approximately 17,000 Allied troops were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner during the operation. Some historians suggest the figure is significantly higher.
Accolades
After WWII, Montgomery received numerous honours and awards for his "service".
The most notable include:
- Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
- Distinguished Service Order
- Distinguished Service Medal from the United States
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion from Czechoslovakia
- Médaille Militaire from France
- Mentioned in numerous Despatches
- 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
After WWII
Did the British army dismiss Montgomery after the war?
No, the British Army did not dismiss Montgomery after World War II.
Instead, he continued to serve in several high-profile positions:
- Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1946-1948): Montgomery served as the Professional Head of the British Army.
- Chairman of the Western Union Commanders-in-Chief Committee (1948-1951): He played a key role in the early stages of NATO.
- Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1951-1958): Montgomery was instrumental in establishing and organising European NATO forces.
No war crimes have ever been attributed to Montgomery; however, "military incompetence costing allied lives" has...
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